EP1679278A2

EP1679278A2 - Spooler assembly, hydraulic cylinder, and spooling method

Info

Publication number: EP1679278A2
Application number: EP06250077A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ronald Talen
Original assignee: National-Oil Well LP; National Oilwell LP
Current assignee: National-Oil Well LP; National Oilwell Varco LP
Priority date: 2005-01-10
Filing date: 2006-01-09
Publication date: 2006-07-12
Also published as: BRPI0600031A; CA2532412C; EP1679278A3; NO327022B1; NO20060153L; US7137586B2; CA2532412A1; US20060151653A1

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spooling a flexible member (14) onto a drum (12) with a spooler assembly (20). In certain embodiments, a spooler assembly (20) comprises a spooler arm (22) operable to guide a flexible member (14) onto a drum (12) rotating about a drum axis. A first actuator (23) moves the spooler arm (22) in a first direction that is parallel to the drum axis. The first actuator (23) operates in a first mode wherein the flexible member (14) is allowed to free movement in the first direction and a second mode wherein the first actuator controls the movement of the flexible member (14) in the first direction. The spooler assembly (20) may also comprise a second actuator (26) that moves the spooler arm (22) in a second direction that is perpendicular to the drum axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a spooler assembly, a hydraulic cylinder, and a spooling method.
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for spooling a linear flexible member. In particular embodiments, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for guiding a flexible member onto a rotating drum.
A spooler is a device used to guide a flexible member onto a drum and is used in many industries. Examples of flexible members include: cable, wireline, slickline, sandline, wire rope, and wire. Overhead spoolers comprise a swivelling arm mounted above a drum with a guide roller device or measuring head on the end to guide the flexible member onto the drum to ensure even and smooth wraps. The opposite end of the arm is attached to one or more swivel joints that allow the arm to be controlled in position both side to side and up and down. Many spoolers rely on hydraulic or other power to control the position of the arm.
In many spooling applications, it is desirable for the spooler to allow the material to "free spool" from side-to-side but provide power to guide the material onto the drum as needed. Many spooled materials have very little pulling power from side-to-side while wrapping onto the drum and too much drag from the spooler arm will not allow the material to self-spool. Thus, it is often necessary for the operator to constantly power the spooler arm in order to keep the spooler head properly positioned.
Because of this constant operation, auto-spoolers have been developed that move in synchronization with the drum to constantly move side-to-side as the drum rotates. When utilized in spooling multi-strand wireline cable, these auto-spoolers often do not operate properly. The multi-stranded cable has a tendency to change diameter as the cable is torqued and twisted. Although the diameter changes are minimal they can have a large effect on how the cable is spooled onto a drum. For example, consider a cable with a nominal outer diameter of 0.220 inches (approx. 5.59 mm) that sees a maximum diameter variation of 0.002 inches (approx. 0.05 mm). If the cable is being wound on a 30 inch (approx. 76 cm) wide drum, the drum will hold 136 wraps per row at the nominal diameter, 135 wraps per row at the maximum diameter of 0.222 inches(approx. 5.64 mm), and 137 wraps per row at the minimum diameter of 0.218 inches (approx. 5.54 mm). Because each row of cable uses the previously spooled row as a guide, if the number of wraps per row is not consistent, the potential of damage to the cable exists.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spooler assembly, the spooler assembly comprising: a spooler arm operable to guide a flexible member onto a drum rotating about a drum axis; and, a swing actuator operable to move said spooler arm in a swing direction that is parallel to the drum axis, wherein said swing actuator operates in a first mode wherein a said flexible member is allowed to move freely in the swing direction and a second mode wherein said swing actuator controls the movement of a said flexible member in the swing direction.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder comprising: a translating sleeve; a piston slidably disposed within said translating sleeve, wherein said piston forms first and second hydraulic chambers within said translating sleeve; a spool disposed within said piston, wherein said spool has a first position that allows fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers and a second position that restricts fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers; and, a hydraulic port in fluid communication with said piston, wherein hydraulic pressure applied to said hydraulic port moves said spool from the first position to the second position, wherein when said spool is in the second position, said hydraulic port is in fluid communication with the first hydraulic chamber.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spooling method, the spooling method comprising: activating a spooler arm so as to control the side-to-side position of a flexible member winding onto a drum; and, deactivating the spooler arm so that the flexible member and the spooler arm can move freely from side-to-side.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed toward methods and apparatus for spooling a flexible member onto a drum with a spooler assembly. In certain embodiments, a spooler assembly comprises a spooler arm operable to guide a flexible member onto a drum rotating about a drum axis. A swing actuator moves the spooler arm in a swing direction that is parallel to the drum axis. The swing actuator operates in a first mode wherein the flexible member is allowed free movement in the swing direction and a second mode wherein the swing actuator controls the movement of the flexible member in the swing direction. The spooler assembly may also comprise a lift actuator that moves the spooler arm in a lift direction that is perpendicular to the drum axis.
In certain embodiments, a spooler assembly further comprises a pivot member connected to the lift actuator, which rotates the pivot member about a pivot axis that is parallel to the drum axis. The spooler arm may be movably connected to the pivot member such that the swing actuator is operable to rotate the spooler arm about a swing axis that is perpendicular to the drum axis. The spooler assembly may also comprise a hydraulic source in fluid communication with the actuators and a control system operable to control the flow fluid from the hydraulic source to the actuators.
In some embodiments, the swing actuator comprises a translating sleeve connected to the spooler arm. A piston is disposed within the translating sleeve and forms first and second hydraulic chambers within the translating sleeve. A spool is disposed within the piston and has a first position that allows fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers and a second position that restricts fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers. A first hydraulic port is in fluid communication with the piston such that hydraulic pressure applied to the first hydraulic port moves the spool from the first position to the second position. When the spool is in the second position, the first hydraulic port is in fluid communication with the first hydraulic chamber.
A spooling method may comprise activating a spooler arm so as to control the side-to-side position of a flexible member winding onto a drum and deactivating the spooler arm so that the flexible member and the spooler arm can move freely from side-to-side. Activating the spooler arm further comprises supplying hydraulic pressure to a first port of a swing actuator, providing fluid communication between the first port and a spool disposed within a piston, wherein the piston is slidably disposed within a translating sleeve and forms first and second hydraulic chambers within the translating sleeve, and shifting a spool so as to provide fluid communication between the first port and the first hydraulic chamber.
Thus, the present invention comprises a combination of features and advantages that enable it to overcome various problems of prior devices. The various characteristics described above, as well as other features, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an example of a drum and spooler assembly constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
Figure 2 shows an example of a spooler assembly constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
Figure 3 is a partial cross sectional view of an example of a swing cylinder constructed in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cylinder of Figure 3 shown in a free movement position;
Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cylinder of Figure 3 shown moving in one direction; and,
Figure 6 is a schematic view of an example of a hydraulic control system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, cable reeling assembly 10 comprises rotating drum 12 for storing a flexible member, herein referred to as cable 14. Cable 14 is guided onto drum 12 by spooler assembly 20. Spooler assembly 20 contacts cable 14 with spooler head 16. Spooler assembly 20 is operable to translate side-to side 18 as cable 14 wraps onto drum 12 and up-and-down as additional wraps of cable are added to the drum. In the preferred embodiments, spooler assembly 20 allows cable 14 to move freely side-to-side but is operable to provide control of how the cable wraps onto drum 12 as desired.
Referring now to Figure 2, spooler assembly 20 comprises pivot member or pipe 21, spooler arm 22, swing actuator or cylinder 23, and lift actuator or cylinder 26. Spooler arm 22 is pivotally mounted to pivot pipe 21 at pin 27. Swing cylinder 23 is a double-action hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end 29, which is connected to pivot pipe 21, and a translating sleeve 25 that is connected to spooler arm 22. Lift cylinder 26 comprises a fixed end 24 and is connected to pivot pipe 21.
Spooler assembly 20 is operable to allow a cable, or other flexible member, to spool freely onto a drum but provide intervention to control the spooling when necessary. Assembly 20 provides both side-to-side and up-and-down control of the spooling of the cable. Up-and-down motion is controlled by lift cylinder 26 causing spooler arm 22 to rotate about the longitudinal axis of pivot pipe 21. Side-to-side motion is controlled by swing cylinder 23, which pivots spooler arm 22 relative to pivot pipe 21 about pin 27.
Lift cylinder 26 is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. When hydraulic pressure is applied to lift cylinder 26 it extends and causes pivot pipe 21 and spooler arm 22 to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the pivot pipe 21. Lift cylinder 26 may include a relief valve (not shown) to maintain the spooler arm 22 in line with the cable 14. The relief valve is set so that a torque balance is maintained on pivot pipe 21 between the force generated by lift cylinder 26 and the total force from the combination of spooler arm 22, measuring head 16, and cable 14. Lift cylinder 26 may be used in applications that require cable 14 to pass straight through measuring head 16.
Referring now to Figure 3, swing cylinder 23 comprises translating sleeve 25, piston 30, spool 32, piston rods 34, 36, springs 38, and hydraulic ports 40,42. Piston 30 is disposed within translating sleeve 25 and divides the interior of the sleeve into two hydraulic chambers 44,46. Springs 38 urge spool 32 to the centre of piston 30 such that ports 48 and 50 communicate with the centre portion 52 of the spool 32, thus effectively deactivating control of swing cylinder 23.
Referring now to Figure 4, swing cylinder 23 is shown in a free movement position where sleeve 25 can move laterally relative to piston rods 34,36. In the absence of hydraulic pressure from ports 40 or 42, springs 38 will urge spool 32 to a centred position where ports 48 and 50 are placed in fluid communication with each other. Thus, as sleeve 25 is moved, hydraulic fluid from chamber 44 will move, through ports 48 and 50, across piston 30 into chamber 46. The movement of sleeve 25 is only restricted by the movement of fluid through ports 48 and 50 and therefore little external force is required to move the sleeve 25, creating a substantially free movement position.
Referring now to Figure 5, swing cylinder 23 is shown in an activated position where hydraulic pressure is applied to port 42. The hydraulic pressure pushes spool 32 to one side of piston 30 and substantially isolates port 50 from port 48. The hydraulic fluid flowing through port 42 moves through port 50 and into chamber 46. The fluid moving into chamber 46 pushes sleeve 25 in a direction that expands the volume of chamber 46. Fluid from chamber 44 flows through port 48 and into port 40, where it can be returned to a fluid supply system. To move sleeve 45 in the opposite direction, the flow of hydraulic fluid is reversed and enters cylinder 23 through port 40.
Thus, referring back to Figures 1 and 2, spooler assembly 20 comprises a spooler arm 22 operable to guide a flexible member 14 onto a drum 12 rotating about a drum axis. Swing actuator 23 moves spooler arm 22 in a swing direction 18 that is parallel to the drum axis. Swing actuator 23 operates in a swing mode wherein flexible member 14 is allowed free movement in swing direction 18 and a second mode wherein swing actuator 23 controls the movement of flexible member 14 in swing direction 18. Spooler assembly 20 may also comprise a lift actuator 26 that moves spooler arm 22 in a lift direction that is perpendicular to the drum axis. Spooler assembly 20 may also comprises pivot member 21 that is connected to lift actuator 26, which rotates the pivot member 21 about a pivot axis that is parallel to the drum axis. Spooler arm 22 may be movably connected to pivot member 21 such that swing actuator 23 is operable to rotate the spooler arm 22 about a swing axis that is perpendicular to the drum axis. Rotation about the swing axis provides movement of spooler arm 22 in swing direction 18.
In certain embodiments, swing actuator 23 comprises a translating sleeve 25 connected to spooler arm 22. A piston 30 is disposed within translating sleeve 25 and forms first and second hydraulic chambers 44,46 within the translating sleeve 25. A spool 32 is disposed within piston 30 and has a centred position that allows fluid communication freely through the piston 30 between the first and second hydraulic chambers 44,46. Shifting the spool 32 off centre blocks fluid communication through the piston 30, thus turning the swing actuator 23 into a normal double-acting hydraulic cylinder. Hydraulic pressure applied to either hydraulic port 48,50 moves the spool 32 from the centre position to a position that allows the user to control the position of spooler arm 22.
Referring now to Figure 6, a hydraulic system comprises a fluid supply 62, pump 63, a four-way control valve 64, up-down hydraulic cylinder 66, and swing cylinder 68. Relief valve 70 provides pressure relief from up-down hydraulic cylinder 66 so that the cylinder 66 can move with the winding cable. Four-way control valve 64 may be operated by a joystick-type control 72 that can be moved in the direction that an operator wants the spooler to move.
While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teaching of this invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and are within the scope of the invention. For example, the relative dimensions of various parts, the materials from which the various parts are made, and other parameters can be varied, so long as the spooler apparatus retain the advantages discussed herein. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.

Claims

A spooler assembly, the spooler assembly (20) comprising:
a spooler arm (22) operable to guide a flexible member (14) onto a drum (12) rotating about a drum axis; and,

a swing actuator (23) operable to move said spooler arm (22) in a swing direction that is parallel to the drum axis, wherein said swing actuator (23) operates in a first mode wherein a said flexible member (14) is allowed to move freely in the swing direction and a second mode wherein said swing actuator (23) controls the movement of a said flexible member (14) in the swing direction.
A spooler assembly according to claim 1, comprising a lift actuator (26) operable to move said spooler arm (22) in a lift direction that is perpendicular to the drum axis.
A spooler assembly according to claim 2, comprising a pivot member (21) connected to said lift actuator (26), wherein said lift actuator (26) is operable to pivot said pivot member (21) about a pivot axis that is parallel to the drum axis.
A spooler assembly according to claim 3, wherein said spooler arm (22) is movably connected to said pivot member (21), and wherein said swing actuator (23) is operable to pivot said spooler arm (22) about a swing axis that is perpendicular to the drum axis.
A spooler assembly according to any of claims 2 to 4, comprising:
a hydraulic source (62) in fluid communication with said swing actuator (23) and said lift actuator (26); and,

a control system (64) operable to control the flow fluid from said hydraulic source (62) to said swing actuator (23) and lift actuator (26).
A spooler assembly according to claim 5, wherein said control system (64) comprises a four-way valve (64).
A spooler assembly according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said swing actuator (23) is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (23).
A spooler assembly according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said swing actuator (23) is pressure balanced in the first mode.
A spooler assembly according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said swing actuator (23) comprises:
a translating sleeve (25) connected to said spooler arm (22);

a piston (30) disposed within said translating sleeve (25), said piston (30) forming first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46) within said translating sleeve (25);

a spool (32) disposed within said piston (30), said spool (32) having a first position that allows fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46) and a second position that restricts fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46); and,

a hydraulic port (40) in fluid communication with said piston (30), wherein hydraulic pressure applied to said hydraulic port (40) moves said spool (32) from the first position to the second position, wherein when said spool (32) is in the second position, said hydraulic port (40) is in fluid communication with the first hydraulic chamber (44).
A spooler assembly according to claim 9, comprising at least one spring (38) operable to urge said spool (32) to the first position.
A spooler assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10, comprising a second hydraulic port (42) in fluid communication with said piston (30), wherein hydraulic pressure applied to said second hydraulic port (42) moves said spool (32) from the first position to the second position, wherein when said spool (32) is in the second position, said second hydraulic port (42) is in fluid communication with the second hydraulic chamber (46).
A hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder (23) comprising:
a translating sleeve (25);

a piston (30) slidably disposed within said translating sleeve (25), wherein said piston (30) forms first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46) within said translating sleeve (25);

a spool (32) disposed within said piston (30), wherein said spool (32) has a first position that allows fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46) and a second position that restricts fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46); and,

a hydraulic port (40) in fluid communication with said piston (30), wherein hydraulic pressure applied to said hydraulic port (40) moves said spool (32) from the first position to the second position, wherein when said spool (32) is in the second position, said hydraulic port (40) is in fluid communication with the first hydraulic chamber (44).
A hydraulic cylinder according to claim 12, comprising at least one spring (38) that is operable to urge said spool (32) to the first position.
A hydraulic cylinder according to claim 12 or claim 13, comprising a second hydraulic port (42) in fluid communication with said piston (30), wherein hydraulic pressure applied to said second hydraulic port (42) moves said spool (32) from the first position to the second position, wherein when said spool (32) is in the second position, said second hydraulic port (42) is in fluid communication with the second hydraulic chamber (46).
A hydraulic cylinder according to claim 14, wherein said first hydraulic port (40) is disposed within a first piston rod (34) that is connected to said piston (30) and extends through an end of said translating sleeve (25), and wherein second hydraulic port (42) is disposed within a second piston rod (36) that is connected to said piston (30) and extends through an end of said translating sleeve (25).
A spooling method, the spooling method comprising:
activating a spooler arm (22) so as to control the side-to-side position of a flexible member (14) winding onto a drum (12); and,

deactivating the spooler arm (22) so that the flexible member (14) and the spooler arm (22) can move freely from side to side.
A spooling method according to claim 16, wherein activating the spooler arm (22) comprises:
supplying hydraulic pressure to a port (40) of a swing actuator (23);

providing fluid communication between the port (40) and a spool (32) disposed within a piston (30), wherein the piston (30) is slidably disposed within a translating sleeve (25) and forms a first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46) within the translating sleeve (25); and,

shifting the spool (32) so as to provide fluid communication between the port (40) and the first hydraulic chamber (44).
A spooling method according to claim 17, wherein deactivating the spooler arm (22) comprises:
shifting the spool (32) so as to provide fluid communication between the first and second hydraulic chambers (44,46).